This is the earliest form of fall front desk or bureau and must have been an expensive piece of furniture to construct. The likelihood is that it was made by a top London workshop such as that of John Coxed (fl. 1703-18). It has a desk box which slightly overhangs the drawer section and is constructed with an integral turned leg stand making it convenient to sit at. The fall has an applied moulding and is cross banded with herringbone inlay and in its open position rests on lopers. The interior has ten small drawers (one of which has coin sections) with their original brass handles and with lovely thin oak linings. It has a hidden well which can be accessed by a finger hole at the rear and inside the well there is a sliding panel behind which are three secret drawers. The base section has four drawers behind which are two secret drawers. An interesting feature is the way in which the dovetails are extended to act as drawer stops. The handles and escutcheons appear to be original. The bureau stands on five superbly turned legs and terminate on bun feet which are original apart from one old replacement at the rear. The flat stretchers are scalloped out at the front and sides and it is extraordinary they have survived without damage bearing in mind that at their thinnest they are only half an inch deep. The colour and patination are excellent and typical of oak for the period. It measures 31 inches wide x 17 1/2 inches deep x 37 inches high.

Ref: 10945

Price: POA